Since 1949
Volume CXX, edition 4
Students Protest Budget Cuts
April 7, 2010
Dr. Lopez Plans to Appeal Case by Max Rosendahl Rampage Reporter
Photo by Gabriella Ramirez
FCC students joined thousands of other students in Sacramento to march against budget cuts. by Annette DeDios
Rampage Reporter After experiencing direct cuts to classes and programs, 150 students from Fresno City College marched on Sacramento to voice their frustrations to legislators. The March in March event, a statewide protest against California’s budget cuts to education, took place on March 22, involving thousands of students and supporters. FCC student Jonathan Howell, a senator for Inter-Club Council (ICC), attended the march. He told the Rampage that people who have the power to affect change should use it to help those
who do not. across the state. “We now live in a world Before leaving Raley Field, where education and information organizers gave marchers picket can be free to all people,” Howell signs stating: “CA needs majority said in an e-mail interview after rule on revenue & budget.” A large the march. “It is time for a change group of students circled around in our government, to reflect the to hear the frustration and motivachanges of this, the 21st Century.” tions of their fellow students being At about 5 a.m., FCC stu- voiced via megaphone. dents boarded three State Center By 10 a.m., the thousands Community College District char- of students began to march across ter buses to head to the state capitol the Tower Bridge, over the Sacrabuilding. mento River, and up the west steps By 9 a.m., the three buses of the capitol building, chanting joined dozens of buses from all “No more cuts,” and holding over the state at Raley Field in various signs making their mesWest Sacramento. The buses were sage clear. filled with passionate, aggravated At 11 a.m., students and students from UC, CSU, and com- supporters listened to organizers munity college campuses from See “Students” on Page 2
Jay Matthews and Jacqueline Mahaffey, petitioners in Fresno City College’s case against health instructor Brad Lopez, said they were pleased with the decision by college authorities to reprimand the instructor. “I think it is a great way to treat it. It gives him the opportunity to change what he is teaching and the way he’s teaching it without just firing him on the spot,” said Mahaffey. “I am happy because they’ve done something, but it doesn’t make any sense. I think it’s fair, but I don’t think it is right,” said Matthews about the college’s decision. A recent article in the Chronicles of Higher Education stated that FCC officials notified Lopez that they planned to put a letter of reprimand in his file and would fire him if he continued to engage in “Bible-based instruction or made disparaging remarks about homosexuals in the future,” citing Lopez’s attorney, Charles Magill as the source of the story. “To say you need to now stop and there’s no apology . . . he [Lopez] has no educational process as to why what he is doing is wrong. He still believes that what he is doing is right. So how does that change anything? He still believes that what he’s doing is right and he still wants to appeal. They [FCC] haven’t taken any action to show him or to teach him why what he is doing is wrong,” Matthews added. Matthews and Mahaffey,
“He [Lopez] still believes that what he’s doing is right and he still wants to appeal. They [FCC] haven’t taken any action to show him or to teach him why what he is doing is wrong.” - Jay Matthews questioned the effectiveness of the college’s action. “He [Lopez] doesn’t understand that it [his actions] is a violation of the students’ rights. He doesn’t understand that it is victimizing people. He doesn’t understand that it is hurting people and that it is not right,” Matthews said. “They [FCC authorities] are not making any effort to teach him that.” Mahaffey said she is hopeful Lopez sees this reprimand as an opportunity to make amends. “But if decides not to, if he truly does feel that he was not in the wrong, then he can go ahead and do it again; hopefully as it [the reprimand letter] said, then he won’t be here anymore.” Lopez and his lawyer continue to state that he has done nothing wrong. Magill told the Rampage that he and Lopez had see “Lopez” page 5
ASG Preparing for 2010-2011 Elections by Ramiro Gudino
Rampage Reporter
Inside:
The Associated Student Government at Fresno City College is preparing for its 2010-2011 elections. Application and petition packages are available at the student activities office. Eligibility
for holding office requires that a candidate be enrolled at least part-time, have a GPA of 2.0 or higher and hold a current student body card. Petitions to run are due by April 9 and require at least 150 verifiable signatures and student ID numbers. Late petitioners won’t be on the ballot but are eligible for
NEWS: “The Waving Lady’ Revealed
See page 2
write-in candidacy. Student body cards can be purchased by students for $5 in the business office. Elections officer Mimi Smith described the ideal candidate as being interested in taking on a leadership role and having a voice on campus. Candidates, she said, ask for feedback from fellow students and take it upon
themselves to improve things on campus. “ASG is the voice of students so they need to know what their fellow students want,” Smith said. Following the April 9 deadline, the student activities office will contact candidates to confirm eligibility. Candidates must then
ENTERTAINMENT: Unexpected Art
See page 6
attend a mandatory meeting on April 13. Voting will take place on campus during April 27-29. For more detailed information regarding candidates and their statements, visit www.fresnocitycollegerampage.com. Information on the candidates will be uploaded when they become available.
SPORTS:
Mom on the Run
See page 11